Vessel-cover and fastening for same.



8. G. CALL.

VESSEL COVER AND FASTENING FDR SAME.

Patented July 25, I899.

(Application filed Apr. 7, 1898.)

2 sheets sheet I.

(No Model.)

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cl wve/wtoi 64 mm [242 No. 629,545. Patented luly 25, I899. B. G. CALL. VESSEL CUVERAND FASTENING FOR SAME. (Application filed Apr. '1, 1 98. ("0 Modem r 2 SheetsSheef 2.

t" WWwe/mm. eJM/um/utoq NITED STATES PATENT FI E,

BENJAMIN G. CALL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO EDYVARD N. RICHARDSON, OF SAME PLACE. I

VESSEL-COVER AND FASTENING FOR SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 629,545, dated July 25, 1899.

Application filed April 7, 1898. 1 Serial No. 676,726. (No model.)

To a, whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, BENJAMIN G, CALL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and. State of California, have invented certain new and or gas-tight covers for cans, tanks, reservoirs,

- and other vessels containing milk, beer, or

other beverages or liquids, or anysubstances or materials requiring hermetical; closure either to exclude air or to confine gasest My invention consists in a novel construction of the clamp-stem,adaptin git for the seating of certain valves required when the vessel is used forcontaining and dispensing beer and other gas-impregnated liquids and in the combination of said valves with said clampstem and the lid or cap forming the cover, all of which I shall hereinafter fully describe.

One object is to adaptmy cover for use upon such vessels as contain steam-beer and other gas-laden liquids and from which they are dispensed, said use requiring the employment of suitable gas-regulating valves, which in my invention find a perfectly-adapted place in the clamp-stem of the cover device.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the application of my cover and fastening to and the necessary valves for a vessel to contain steam-beer or other gas-impregnated liquid. Fig. 2 is a top view of the vessels mouth.

A is a vessel which may be of any kind requiring by reason of its use a hermeticallysealed cover. The mouth a of this vessel is bounded by a rim a, and down within the mouth is a fixed lug or shoulder o which is here shown as being made in separated sections. There may be only one lug or shoulder, or it mayconsist of an encircling lug divided into sections, two or more in number, whereby spaces a are left between the adjacent ends of the sections for the passage of the arms of the clamp to be presently described. If said clamp have four arms, then about the clamp-stem, thus making the jourthe lug or shoulder a will have four sections,

as I have shown inFig. 2. Bis the lid orcap. It is a flanged lid adapted to slip over the rim a of the vessel A and to find a seat thereon through the intervent ion of the Washer or gasket b. The lid has a central boss with a hole b and a recess or F is a stop-pin located under .t-he'lug or v I shoulder a in the vessel and lying in the path of movement of the clamp-arms.

The operation of these parts is as follows: The clamp-arms c are passed down in the spaces a between the sections of the lug or shoulder a ,-and when under said lug or shoul der are then turned through a partial revolu tion to come under the lug or shoulder. The stop-pin F limits this movement conveniently to prevent too greatta travel, which might carry the arms into alinement with succeeding spaces a Now the lidbeing on the clampstem and fitted to-its place over the rim of the vessels mouth,the handled nutD is turned down until it bears upon the wearing-ringe of the packing E. Further movement of the nut now causes the packing E to bind tightly 5 nal between said stem and the lid air and gas tight. At the same time the downward pressure of the nut pulls up on the clamp, causing its arms to bear up tightly under the lug or shoulder a and it forces down the lid with an equal pressure all around until said lid is firmly and evenly pressed down upon the gasket b and forms the necessary hermetic seal. To relieve the lid, the nut is turned up, and the clamp being turned back to cause its arms to aline with the spaces a all the parts may be removed from the vessel by simply lifting them from and off its mouth, Thus both the application and the relief of the cover are'eifected easily and rapidly and without the use of special tools or a tool of any kind, and the joints formed are perfectly tight.

In vessels used for dispensing liquids like steam-beer regulating-valves to control the supply, the quantity and pressure of the gas, and its relief are necessary. I shall now describe my improvements in this regard where by, in connection with my cover, I am enabled to attain the required results. For this purpose I showin Fig. 1 a vessel A of that deseription usually used for dispensing steambeer. I make an opening 0 through the clamp-stem from end to end. In its upper portion this opening is enlarged and is pro vided with screwthreads, as shown at a Into these threads is screwed an inverted cone G, having a passage 9 through it in the line of its axis. This passage maybe as small as required. W'ithin the vessel A is a float H, the stem h of which is guided up through the opening 0 in the clamp-stem, and it earries a valve h on its upper end adapted by contact with and removal from the apex of the cone G to close and to open the passage 9 of said cone. Screwed into the upper end of the cone G is a point-valve I, which is adapted to control the upper end of passage g.

When screwed down, the point-valve I closes passage 9. When screwed up, it opens it, and the gas may escape by following the screwthreads or directly out through suitable side apertures, such as g, in thehead of theconepiece. o

The automatic action of the float-valve and cone and their control of the liquid-supply and gas-pressure are well known, and as they form of themselves no part of my invention it will be suflicient to say that as the gas in vessel A accumulates and by its increasing pressure prevents the inflow of the liquid, and thereby reduces its level, the float descending opens the cone-passage and permits the escape of the gas. The pressure is thereby reduced, and the liquid will flow in to that level found best to preserve in the vessel a sufficient quantity of liquid for drawing and settling purposes, whereupon the rising float by closing its valve against the cone-passage will cut oi the escape of the gas and will check the inflow of the liquid at the proper level. Heretofore these parts, necessary to this antomatic control, have all been located within the vessel, the cone being screwed down through the common screw or other cap of the vessel and a depending sleeve being used, forming a guide for the float-stem. In such location they occupied the position necessary for the clamp and its stem of my cover device. To avoid this conflict, I have seated these parts within my clamp-stem, thus permitting their use with my cover and also taking the valve portion out of the can and up to the outside, where it can be most conveniently reached. In addition to this combination I have included the novel feature of the point-valve I, by which a control and check hole in the cap and provided with a passage therethrough,a n ut on the clan1p-stem,a valveseat in the upper part of said passage, a stem having a valve thereon working in said passage, and means within the vessel for operating said valve, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the lid or cap, the underlying clamp having a stem with anopcning through it, said stem extending through the lid or cap, a lug or shoulderwit-hin the vessel, with which the clamp engages, and the nut on the clamp-stem for tightening the clamp and lid or cap, theeone-piece seated in the upper portion of the clampfstem opening and having a passage through it, and the float in the vessel having a stem guided in the opening of the clamp-stem and carrying 'a valve on its upper end adapted to control the passage through the cone-piece.

3. In combination with the lid or cap, the underlying clamp havingastem with an opening through it, said stem extending through the lid or cap, a lug or shoulder within the vessel with which the clamp engages, and the nut on the clamp-stem for tightening the clamp and lid or cap, the cone-piece seated in the upper portion of the clamp-stem opening and having a passage through it, the float in the vessel havinga stem guided in the opening of the clamp-stem and carrying a valve on its upper end adapted to control the passage through the cone-piece, and the valve, seated in the cone-piece and adapted to control the upper end of its passage.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 1 BENJAMIN G. CALL.

lVitnesses:

D. B. RICHARDS, WALTER F. VANE. 

